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MARCH 2003
Annual Newsletter for all Returned Missionaries
of the Northern Far East Mission


REUNION SET!

When: Friday, April 4, 2003
Time: 6:30 P.M.
Place: LDS CHAPEL
735 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, Utah
Activities: Full course Japanese food buffet including the mitsumame for dessert we loved when in japan! NEW! Also some Korean food this year.
Who: "Come one, come all!" All NFE Mission returned missionaries who served in Japan and Korea, family (including kids & grandkids), and any friends/guests you would like to bring are invited.
Cost: Still just $7.50/person!!

*Please R.S.V.P. your intent to attend!  ... to James R. Howell, Jr., Association Treasurer, by:
Phone: 801-582-8443
EMail: janejhowell@hotmail.com
Regular Mail: 1919 Yale Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Or... EMail the site Webmaster at summers@webpipe.net 


ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 2002-2003

M. Dahl Walker, President, Murray, UT  801-269-9163
Marcus Lee Hamson, 1st VP, SLC, UT  801-374-8083
Ron M. Mano, Secretary, SLC, UT  801-943-7409
Bart Howell, Pres. Ex Officio, Alpine, UT 801-756-0636 Fax: 801-756-0707/Cell 801-376-1197 Office: 801-756-8890
James R. Howell, Jr., Treas. SLC, UT 801-582-8443
George M. McCune, News Editor, SLC, UT 801-964-2825 Fax 801-964-0551


ACTIVITY COMMITEE:

Terry Jensen, SLC, UT 801-942-2104
Randy Taylor, SLC, UT 801-225-0548
Doug Jensen, SLC 801-943-9283
William W. Summers, Webmaster , No. Ogden, UT 801-782-8233 1985 N. 500 E., No. Ogden, UT 84404 


Major Realignment OF STAKES & DISTRICTS in KANTO, JAPAN 

The Tokyo South Stake was dissolved and its branches and wards integrated into the Yokohama and surrounding stakes. The former 9 stakes were refined to 8 stakes and one English speaking district. Reorganization of leadership took place on February 2, 2003.

Also, although this is somewhat hearsay from a sister in the Senzoku Ike Ward, the following other changes were made:

Musashino Japan Stake: Fuchu Ward, Fussa Ward, Hibarigaoka Ward, Kichijoji Ward, Kunitachi Ward, Suginami Ward, Tokorozawa Ward

Tokyo Japan South District: Tokyo 1st Branch, Tokyo 2nd Branch, Tokyo, 3rd Branch, Tokyo 4th Branch

Yokohama Japan Stake: Kamiooka Ward, Kawasaki Ward, Kanagawa Ward, Kouhoku Ward, Yamate Ward, Yokosuka Branch, Senzokuike Ward

Machida Japan Stake: Hachioji Ward. Kofu Ward, Machida 1st Ward, Machida 2nd Ward, Sagamihara Ward, Takao Ward, Tama Ward

Fujisawa Japan Stake: Atsugi Ward, Fujisawa Ward, Hodogaya Ward, Kamakura Ward, Shonan Ward, Yamato Ward

Tokyo Japan Stake: Adachi Ward, Ichikawa Ward, Koiwa Ward, Nakano Ward, Shibuya Ward, Toshima Ward(Tokyo North Mission)


NEW AREA AUTHORITIES

Masayuji Nakano April 7, 2002
Yasuo Niiyama April 7, 2002
Hyae-Kee Min
Won Yong Ko


NEW STAKE PRESIDENTS

Ryozo Sato Asahigawa Stake April 27, 2002
Takao Yoko Osaka Stake Sept. 8, 2002
Yuji Nishihara Nagoya Stake Oct. 27, 2002
Shigehiro Sugimoto Osaka Sakai Stake Jan. 19, 2003
Katsumi Kusume Musashino Stake Feb. 2, 2003
Hideaki Asanuma Chiba Stake Feb. 2, 2003
Yoshikazu Yokoyama Tokyo Stake Feb. 2, 2003


NEW DISTRICT PRESIDENTS

Makoto Tamura Akita District April 28, 2002
Yukihiro Furukawa Nagasaki District Aug. 25, 2002 
Toshio Kashiyama Gogo District Sept. 29, 2002
Yukifumi Shigematsu Matsuyama District Nov. 17, 2002 
Morihiro Nitta Koriyama District Dec.1, 2002
Kazuyoshi Seza Kagoshima District Dec. 21, 2002
Kazuyoshi Sugimoto Nagano District Mar. 24, 2002
Allen D. Todd Okinawa Serv. Dist. June 9, 2002 
Lee A. Daniels Tokyo South Dist. Feb. 2, 2003
Akio Kimura Aomori District Feb. 4, 2003


CURRENT MISSION PRESIDENTS 

KOREA
Hee Chul Seo Pusan to 7-2002
Rex Otto Carlson Seoul to 7-2003
J.R. Bangerter Seoul West to 7-2004
Richard C. Rice Taejon to 7-2004

JAPAN 
Mark A. Gottfredson Fukuoka to 7-2003
James R. Whitesides Nagoya to 7-2004
Bradford B. Banks Hiroshima to 7-2005
Richard K. Hansen Sapporo to 7-2005
Alan B. Bird Sendai to 7-2005
Mark P. Durham Tokyo North to 7-2003
Karl Hart Bullock Tokyo South to 7-2005


SALT LAKE WINTER OLYMPICS BENEFITS KOREA & JAPAN LDS
by Norman D. Shumway
Director of Church Hosting,
NFE 1/1955-12/1957

My responsibility at Olympic hosting was the "desk" for Asia, Africa and the islands of the Pacific. We hosted almost 150 journalists from Korea and Japan. One of the early Korean groups was made up of seven religion editors of separate newspapers. They wanted to learn about "Mormonism" so we routed them to the usual places. Then, at their request, we scheduled them to attend a family home evening held by a local Korean family. They were visibly Impressed.

On their way back to the hotel, two of them conversed in the back of the van: "Wasn't that a wonderful family? I'd sure like to have that kind of influence in my house." 

The other thought for a moment, and then replied, "Well, why don't we just convert?"

All seven of the group asked for Book of Mormons which they promised to read on the airplane while returning home. They clearly felt the Spirit during the visit. 

We also came to know Tamami Tanaka, a biathlon athlete and member of the Japanese team. Friends in Japan told us about her, but added that although she had been baptized seven years earlier, she was inactive. While in the Heber City area, she was contacted by members of the Mill Road Ward and given gifts (Valentines) and a large banner wishing her success.

I called her on the telephone after her last race, and invited her to Salt Lake City to tour Church sites. She declined, saying she didn't know her schedule. I called again the next day, and got the same answer. I concluded that she wasn't interested, so wrote her off. Then, on the following day, I learned that a ward sister had invited her to tour Temple Square and she had accepted.

I quickly arranged for two Japanese sisters to meet her. After the tour, she confessed that she felt near to God. She promised that she would begin to pray, she would carry her Book of Mormon to the upcoming World Cup games, and that she would subscribe to and read the Liahona. I learned later that she had been given a warm welcome by her Ward in Japan and was speaking at LDS firesides and other meetings. A great example that God loves all His children - and that through the Olympics much happened to help bring the Church further out of obscurity.


GROWTH STATISTICS

ASIA NORTH AREA PRESIDENCY

Donald L. Hallstrom President
Yoshiko Kikuchi 1st Counselor
Gary S. Matsuda 2nd Counselor, & A. Auth.


OTHERS’ SERVICE IN CERTAIN CAPACITIES

Kazuhiko Yamashita Area Authority
Richard G. Porter Tokyo MTC Pres.
Kiyoshi & Mitsuyo Sakai Tokyo Temple Pres.
Masaru & Junko Tsuchida Fukuoka Temple

DELRAY R. & MONA RAE BLAU FINISH COUPLE MISSION IN FUKUOKA AND OKI
by Delray R. Blau, NFE 3/1957

My wife and I were ordinance workers in the Las Vegas Temple for three years but we wanted to serve a regular mission together. I had some back problems but I felt good enough so I thought I could serve a mission, however I thought that we would probably be assigned somewhere in the States where I could get to a good doctor if I needed to so I was very surprised when We got our call and it said we had been called to serve in the Japan Fukuoka Mission.

They only gave us three weeks till we were supposed to be in the MTC so we worked fast and got everything ready. We spent 2½ months in the MTC trying to learn some Japanese. I had forgotten all my Japanese and it didn't come back very easy.

We arrived in Fukuoka July 24 2001 on a very hot humid day. Being from the Las Vegas area we were used to the heat but not the humidity. We stayed in Fukuoka for two weeks and then flew to Okinawa where we served for the rest of our 18 month mission.

We worked with the Japanese members and the members in the military. We were trying to get the Japanese members more involved in Family History. They had recently had the Japanese version of PAF 5 installed on the computers in the little Family History center by the Futenma Chapel. However they did not have anyone called to help the Japanese people do their work. We held a combined Military- Japanese Family History Fair which we thought was quite successful. Some of the Japanese members had done a lot of research and had a lot of names. 

Later the Stake President called a Sister to be in charge of the work with the Japanese members and she had very good success. They only had the Center open once or twice a week but some evenings they would have ten or twelve people there. When we left they also had Temple Ready installed in Japanese. We were very happy for the progress they were making.

We enjoyed working with the young missionaries, they are so enthusiastic, we also would check their apartments every two or three months. The hard part about that was finding the apartments the first time or two that we went. Also we helped with transfers. We spent a lot of time at the airport on transfer days and we also would pick up the Mission President when he would come to Okinawa which was two or three times a month. 

Of course the best time on our mission was when we were teaching the Gospel. We were able to get Clergy Passes for all the Marine Bases and Kadena Airbase so we could get on and off without much trouble. We worked with part-member and less-active families most of the time but some times we were given referrals that we were able to teach. It was wonderful to see the change that came into the lives of the people as they accepted the Gospel.

President Gottfredson said that this was the Lord’s work and He was directing it. He said that the things that happened did not happen by chance and we were able to see this occur many times. 

We drove a church van while there and driving in Okinawa is real experience and a challenge. I know that the Lord was protecting us because my driving wasn't the best and sometimes it was kind of scary to be out in the traffic. But we did love it in Okinawa and I would recommend that everybody plan on serving a mission after they retire. Hopefully you can use some of this for your newsletter. Thanks again, Delray


TOM & JUNKO SHIMIZU SERVE ANOTHER MISSION IN JAPAN DOING PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK

Their Personal 2002 Report

Dear Brother McCune,

Please find our belated report of 2002 in a brief year end greeting form. 

We are soon embarking on an annual training tour to Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo and Fukuoka. One of our responsibilities is to train Stake and District Public Affairs Directors in each of the 29 Stakes and 18 Districts in Japan. 

The year 2002 has been a very special year for being on a mission in Japan doing public affairs work. As you are aware, the purpose of Public Affairs is to increase positive awareness of the Church and to build bridges of friendship and understanding. It has gone too quickly. With only four months remaining on our mission, there is much yet to be done.

Reflecting back many exciting events took place this year.

January and February: The Salt Lake Winter Olympics was our banner event. We were surprised by the spontaneity of the press as the major national newspapers and TV stations contacted us here after receiving the Olympic press kits about the Church. They sought our advice prior to their departure to SLC. A delegation of 850 TV and Newspaper personnel from Japan deluged the Salt Palace Media Center. It was the largest foreign group to descend on the area. The results were marvelous. Members, with the Olympics Media kits and the Olympic Introduction Video held many successful open houses with excitement to where families and nonmembers were invited. It was truly a morale booster for the Church in Japan March and April: Went to five areas in Japan to hold Public Affairs Training Meetings for the directors. There are a total of 30 Stakes and 17 Districts in Japan with 314 Wards and Branches. There are over 118,000 members and 187 meeting houses. We certainly enjoyed meeting the capable directors from all throughout Japan. 

May and June: We made post Olympic visits to continue good relationship with the media and community leaders with Olympic Pin Sets and the Tabernacle CDs. They were very happy to see us and expressed their appreciation for the wonderful hospitality they received from the Church and volunteers in Salt Lake City. They felt that the SLC Winter Olympics was the best ever among the many they have attended. Especially the Japan Olympics Committee Chairman, Mr. Takeda felt and expressed so strongly as we visited him with our Asia North Area President Elder Hallstrom.

July and August: A National Boy Scouts Jamboree with 20,000 scouts took place at the height of the summer heat in the City of Osaka. One day was set aside for religious worship services. After the services, Sister Sugimoto, one of our Public Affairs Directors conducted religious activities. One activity was a David and Goliath game that featured three life size A-frame Goliaths played with slings and tennis balls.

Another involved missionary discussions for the religious achievement award. The displays and innovative games drew the largest media attention in the scout newspaper and Internet home page. They also had an excellent open house at the Osaka Sakai Stake Center where the scouts were bussed to and had guided tours of Church history and doctrinal displays. They solicited over 100 volunteers for the event including missionaries. We were impressed by the effort and spirit of the members.

During the period, we also visited throughout the country meeting with Stake and District Presidents orienting them to the work of public affairs, and attended local Sunday meetings speaking at the Sacrament Meetings and bearing testimony of PA work. 

September and October: On September 1, Elder Hallstrom dedicated a beautiful meetinghouse in the historical Yamate area of Yokohama City near the very spot where President Heber J. Grant dedicated Japan to missionary work just 101 years ago. It was a spiritually moving experience with a capacity crowd witnessing the dedication. A Yokohama City Councilman representing the second largest city in Japan, a former member of the Japan Lower Diet, and other religious and educational leaders were in attendance.

An Open House with a flute concert, and beautiful historical photo and Church displays attracted many people from around the area. A year ago, a tower and plaque were dedicated as part of a Centennial Cerebration. In conjunction with the Centennial Cerebration, a book "Beyond the Century" was written by Sister Yanagida and published this year. She is one of Japan's pioneer leaders and was very instrumental in Junko's conversion 48 years ago.

We visited well-known National Upper Diet Member Seiko Hashimoto with Elder Hallstrom. She was a 1992 Olympic Speed Skating Bronze Medallist. November and December: On November 2, we held the BYU-Hawaii All Japan High School English Speech Contest Finals in Tokyo after preliminary contests in 12 areas of Japan. This was the fourth year of this contest and two of the previous winners joined the Church. During this year's preliminary contests, one of the winners and her brother joined the Church as well as a Contest Committee member. This year, the Church Public Affairs Department realigned its international areas to include Japan and Korea with Australia and New Zealand. All the directors in the Area were invited to a training conference at the end of Nov and early Dec. at the headquarters in Sydney. Elder Madsen of the Australia/New Zealand Area Presidency, Brother Bruce Olsen, Director of Church Public Affairs and brother Alan Wakeley, our International Director gave enlightening and inspiring direction and training. 

It has been a full and exciting year. Now we need to continue to go forward. "You are the light of the world...... Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."

"Anatagata wa, yono hikari dearu. .... Sonoyouni, anatagatano hikari wo hitobito no mae ni kagayakashi, soshite, hitobitiga anatagatano yoi okonai wo mite, ten ni imasu anatagatano Chichi wo agameru yo ni shinasai."

Sincerely,

Elder M. Tom and Sister Junko Shimizu [NFE ‘59 & ‘62]
Asia North Area Japan Public Affairs Director 


THE POPES CAN’T KEEP AWAY FROM JAPAN EITHER

Report From Nagoya Mission

Hi Wayne!
Thanks for your note.

We are in the Nagoya Mission--currently serving in the Gobou Branch.is a small town south of Wakayama. It:s about half way between Wakayama (south of Osaka) and Tanabe....or nearly to the bottom of the "cape."

We have been called as activation, fellowship and leadership--types. I am a counselor in the Gobou District Presidency, and we have the assignment to visit Tanabe once a month. (The other two members of the presidency visit Shingu and Gobou). We also go home teaching, are teaching a couple of women, help with the elders--etc.

We’ve been here since September (when we arrived in Japan), and have no idea how long we will be assigned here (maybe the full time)?

Love, Karl & Connie Pope (E&S)


MISSION NEWS

The Fukuoka Mission experienced 31 baptisms in December 2002. Nine were from Okinawa and Miyako islands (including an Okinawan family of 3 and 1 of which was US military). Two other US military were from Sasebo. Two were a Caucasian husband and Japanese wife from Yatsuhiro. Another family of 3 were from Maebaru. And there is a couple from Saga. It appears 17 were brethren and 14 were sisters.

President Gottfredson reports baptisms were up 58% for 2002 and the "number of reactivations was even 

"Real growth" was realized in Sacrament meeting attendance, surpassing any time in memory. In December 58 reactivations occurred, 8 over the goal of 50.

President Gordon B. Hinckley was quoted saying "You set the example for what others may do under your inspired leadership . . ." Ensign, May 1999, p. 104, 110 Ideas on how missionaries may help the bishop be responsible for missionary work in his ward was given. 

Missionaries are teaching the lessons to members and then asking for referrals. This activity lets missionaries practice teaching to a friendly audience, inspires the member family with the missionary spirit, and leads to member referrals.

Media commercials on TV have also been broadcast [probably similar to those in the States inviting those desirous of a free video or Book of Mormon to call a number]. Missionaries indicate those they contact say things like, "I’ve heard of that church before," or "I’ve seen that name on T.V.", etc.

Spiritual experiences related by the missionaries include an investigator attempting to run to his parents home so he would not be home from a promised appointment with the missionaries saw sister missionaries on the way pumping their bicycles with all their might on the streets of Shuri, Okinawa, and was so impressed with their hard work, he returned home for his appointment and was taught and baptized. 

Another, when an elder’s bike broke down, his companion remarked the Lord must desire us to walk today. They did and met a man on the street and are teaching him.

The Seoul West Mission emphasizes radiating love in everything the missionaries do and to seek the Spirit in learning the language and everything they do.

In fulfillment of the above, an Elder reports, "A couple of weeks ago I was struggling a bit... It seemed like everything around me was getting dimmer, like I was fainting. Then I finally figured out the problem was me. I had to gather my faith again, repent of the things I was doing wrong, and get a change of perspective. Things started getting better. My companion and I had a good talk and we both decided to change our attitude. It’s like someone opened the curtains again. I am learning to face my problems instead of running away from them in my mind. "

President Whitesides of the Nagoya Mission writes in the February 2003 mission newsletter Inochi no Michi of a parable related by Elder Wirthlin. A childless king searches for an adoptive heir. He finds a potential prince and gives him 3 tests. The 1st , he invites the prince to a party after giving him duties and preparation to perform. The prince declines the party. The 2nd, he tells the prince to use an unbroken horse to plow a field before sundown. He works harder than normal and performs. The 3rd, a barrel of seeds are dumped in the breezy courtyard. The prince is told to gather all the seeds by dusk. A sparrow comes to help and gathers many other sparrows to assist.

The moral is the 3 steps to fulfill a missionary’s divine commission are to: 1) Put all distractions aside and determine to "win in the workout.", Work hard and do all that is expected and then some; and 3) Understand that you can’t do the work alone. 

Nine confirmations were achieved in January 2003, a couple in Kaugai in their mid 30's, a 65 yr old brother in Osaka, two sisters 60 (from Nara) and 53 (from North Osaka), a sister 29 from Kyoto, a sister 29 from Mie, a brother 22 from Mie, and a young brother 13 from North Osaka.

Four of these conversions were obtained from housing, 2 from member referrals, the 13 yr old from a part member family, and 2 from streeting. Very revealing. The 35 yr old couple was contacted through housing visits.

The Tokyo South Mission had 9 baptisms in November 2002 (all from outside Tokyo), one Caucasian (sex unknown), 4 brothers, and 4 sisters. Hachijoji area and Fujieda had 2 each. One was from Kofu, 1 from Fujisawa, and 1 each from Shonan and Tama.

Eight were baptized in December, 1 from Senzoku Ike and the rest from out of Tokyo, 1 Caucasian (sex ?), 3 brothers, and 4 sisters.

The number of missionaries hovered around 115-125, ending at 120 at year’s end. Wards with more than 2 missionaries declined. There was an increase in baptisms, however, from 162 in 2001 to 205 in 2002. Top baptizing month were 26 in January and 28 in June 2002.

Since 2000, baptisms have been on the rise. In 1991 there were 300 baptisms and since a decline to 1994, then a slight bob up and down until 2000.

Improving skills is the goal and the mission work responsibility placed on bishops has evidently increased baptisms and LAM reactivations increased over double from 61 in 2001 to 127 in 2002. Missionaries are working side by side with ward missionaries and home teachers more.

Another positive impact was the 1st live satellite transmission to Japan of the June 2002 Nauvoo Temple Dedication and the October 2002 General Conference.


SOME WE KNOW HAVE MOVED ACROSS THE VEIL RECENTLY

SHIGEKI USHIO, 88, on Nov. 18, 2002. Farm Fureau agent 38 yrs, co-founder Natl. J.A.C.L. Credit Union, Japan Osaka Mission President 1980-1983, Asst. Dir. LDS Church Hosting 1993-1006. Funeral attended by Elders William Walker, 70, Elder Ben Banks, 70, and Pres. James E. Faust, who spoke.

RULON NATHAN PORTER, 65, on February 1, 2003, NFE Korea from January 1958-December 1960, Zions Securities for past 10 years.

DON CHARLES LUNDBERG, 70, on February 22, 2003, of cancer, served NFE from Aug. 1958 for 3½ years with 6 month extension.


WE ARE SEARCHING FOR E-MAIL ADDRESSES!
YOUR’S INCLUDED!

Please immediately e-mail Webmaster Wayne W. Summer at with yours, also any other NFE friends whose e-mail addresses you know.


NEWS BITES

TOMA FAMILY VIDEO AVAILABLE

The video covers this stalwart LDS family from Okinawa. Call 801-310-5084 for copies, by Heritage Productions, called "The Morning Will Come." Yosuke Kimura, who works for Heritage Productions, is married to Rick Toma’s daughter.

OLD TOKYO SOUTH BRANCH - SENZOKU IKE WARD

Photos are being sought for a 40th year celebration by Yokohama Stake President Yukio Kumazawa and Senzoku Ike Ward Bishop Noriaki Shichijo are collecting photos. The celebration will be held in 2005. Please send them to BishopNoriaki Shichijo, 5-25-7 Nishi Ohi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 140-00515 or e. m. 

DON’T FORGET SUBMISSIONS FOR 50TH NFE ANNIVERSARY. Check our website at http://nfem.mainpage.net under STORIES, then Stories Solicitation and review Pres. Paul Andrus’s excellent appeal to us alL for 2005's celebration. 

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